NFL = National Fascist League.

(ThyBlackMan.com) “Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power” Benito Mussolini

When you look at professional sports, especially pro football in theUS, you notice a pattern; almost every stadium is named after a corporate entity. Take a look at the NFL stadiumin your town or city, more than likely it is named after some corporate entity like Nissan, Mercedes Benz, AT&T, Lincoln Financial, MetLife, FedEx, Bank of America, M&T Bank, Lucas Oil to name a few.

So what, what’s the big deal you ask? The big deal is the NFL which according to its articles of incorporation stands for National Football League should be more accurately referred to as the National Fascist League! Why are you going there, why do you say that you ask? Because most if not all of the NFL’s stadiums (as well as most Major League Baseball and the NBA venues) have been paid for with tax payer dollars but they carry the names of corporate entities!

You as a tax payer have helped these franchises become extremely profitable. What I ask did/do you get out of it? Do you personally receive a check or dividend from the local team or the NFL? Does the city or county in which the local NFL stadium is located get any money from the team owner or the NFL?

The use of taxpayer dollars had to be approved by a governing body. A city council, county commissioners or a special authority had to approve the measure. In some circles this is called a public-private partnership. In the case or cases where and when the private entity or entities (such as a professional sports team or league) get the major benefit of the deal, it’s not really capitalism per se; it’s really either socialism or fascism. In the case of the NFL, we the people got the shaft so it was not socialism. Other than being able to root for the local team or that particular sport, what did/do you get out of it? How much money do you get from that arrangement? How has your community benefitted from this deal? How much does hooping and hollering and wearing a team’s paraphernalia count and does that pay any of your bills?

Until two years ago the NFL offices were tax exempt. http://time.com/3839164/nfl-tax-exempt-status/ The NFL office was a 501(c) 6 registered trade organization. The individual NFL teams pay taxes but the NFL office was registered as a tax exempt non profit entity. Keep in mind; this designation had to be approved by the US government specifically the IRS despite the fact that at the time of the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 a monopoly was being created which is against the law. But US government agencies like the Justice Department and IRS looked the other way.

What is the probability of you or me as private citizens or fledgling entrepreneurs being allowed to skirt Justice Department and IRS rules and regulations?! This clearly shows the power of money and the nexus between money favorable government treatment which almost inevitably leads to corruption.

There is nothing wrong with public private partnerships but they should be a win-win arrangements that benefit the public in some tangible way just like it puts millions of dollars in the NFL team owners’ pockets. What do we get out of the use of our tax dollars?

In Philadelphia when the Eagles and Phillies were negotiating for their new stadiums several years ago, part of the agreement was they would kick in money to help the schools which helped lower the burden on the taxpayers and helped the school district. But this type of arrangement is an anomaly rather than the norm.

The NFL owners recently bent to pressure from Trump and their corporate sponsors and the owners voted unanimously to arbitrarily and capriciously ban players from refusing to stand for the Star Spangled Banner or using on-field gestures of dissent. Trump pressured the NFL to shut down their players much like Adolph Hitler punished a German soccer team in 1934 for failing to give the Nazi salute. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/german-football-club-banned-failing-give-nazi-salute/ Do you see any similarities?

Comments

Why Attack the Owners and the National Football League Who Have Already Surrendered? Makes No Sense Whatsoever!

Your words call for the punishment of owners of National Football League teams, who have “already capitulated” in our battle to hold errant police officers and their proxies accountable, for atrocities against African Americans, including unjustly killing them. African Americans have achieved their desired aim, when it comes to Mr. Trump, and their protests against police killings. These protests led to “a 90 million dollar bonanza” for the National Football League Players Association (they are 70% black). A much better strategy my brother, is for you and others, “who say” they have an unwavering interest in STOPPING the killings of American citizens is, “TO SUMMON THE COURAGE” to step up, and make these guys spend part of the money, on the resolution of the problem.

You have to ask yourself, are you truly interested in stopping the Killings of African Americans or are you just making noise? The linked article will make you answer that very question. I guarantee IT! Now its time for you to do your part and advocate, through your contacts with others, to also do theirs!